Denon AVC-A1H, special request for Gene to review and bench test this new beast!

Would you like to see the new Denon flaghsip AVR reviewed and measured by Gene, Audioholics?


  • Total voters
    48
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
There seems to be concern on lack of ventilation , trust me I've got great ventilation.
My custom AV rack is actually huge, 24" wide x 28" deep, with double doors (sealed) for easy access to rear.
Keeping things properly vented was never an issue, nor the reason why I inquired on the 5 year warranty.

I posted a inline duct fan is there .. here it is.
FWIW this was put in to keep all the "hot air" from AVR & XBOX X from warming up the HT, it works perfect.

View attachment 72443
Hanging above rec room suspended ceiling.
I did the whole basement myself, everything, 2005-2008.
Office room, full bath, bedroom, rec room, HT, kitchenette, about 1200 sq ft.
Wall framing, plumbing, elect, etc.
View attachment 72444

Thats a huge hole, covered by 8" x 11" grille.
View attachment 72445

ductwork sucking air from AV rack
View attachment 72446

view of backside AV rack
View attachment 72447
In that case, the A1H should do well. Some of us who use external fans are not usually worry about thermal issues, just want to improve on longevity by keeping all internal parts such as capacitors, processors, batteries and output devices that are known to last longer at lower temperatures than say 35 deg. C that is not that warm on the outside of the enclosure.
 
mtbdudex

mtbdudex

Audioholic Intern
In that case, the A1H should do well. Some of us who use external fans are not usually worry about thermal issues, just want to improve on longevity by keeping all internal parts such as capacitors, processors, batteries and output devices that are known to last longer at lower temperatures than say 35 deg. C that is not that warm on the outside of the enclosure.
Understood you and others position on being extra cautious.

This device, love its app control, simple auto on over 76f , off below.
I have the sensor simply resting on the top of the AVR.
Set fan speed at 4 it’s near whisper quiet above the drop ceiling


It keeps a log.
I can even “spy” on my adult children late night gaming sessions.. over the course of 6 hours here Christmas week…



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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mtbdudex

mtbdudex

Audioholic Intern
Dear By Jacob Green Contributors: Matthew Poes , Gene DellaSala — February 08, 2023 ;
@gene @Matthew J Poes
In your article https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/denon-avr-a1h you wrote this:
"As is often the case with flagship Denon receivers, there are really too many features to count, let alone list here. But a couple of small things stood out to me. Unlike the AVR-X8500H, the AVR-A1H has a stereo balanced XLR input, perfect for the analog output of your favorite high-end DAC. It also comes with a 5-year warranty, instead of 3 years on the X8500H. "

I posted in this thread inquiring on the 5 year warranty statement, post number 215.


You have that from what source, can I have a copy of the document please?

regards,
Mike Rosinski
 
D

dlaloum

Senior Audioholic
Dear By Jacob Green Contributors: Matthew Poes , Gene DellaSala — February 08, 2023 ;
@gene @Matthew J Poes
In your article https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/denon-avr-a1h you wrote this:
"As is often the case with flagship Denon receivers, there are really too many features to count, let alone list here. But a couple of small things stood out to me. Unlike the AVR-X8500H, the AVR-A1H has a stereo balanced XLR input, perfect for the analog output of your favorite high-end DAC. It also comes with a 5-year warranty, instead of 3 years on the X8500H. "

I posted in this thread inquiring on the 5 year warranty statement, post number 215.


You have that from what source, can I have a copy of the document please?

regards,
Mike Rosinski
But honestly, what is the point of an external DAC???

The entire "Raison D'etre" (reason for existence) of such a component, is to be able to digitally process the signal, so as to allow for Room Compensation/Equalisation, as well as catering to the requisite decoding & mixing for multi channels.

Really the only role for an external DAC would be in a traditional audiophile minimalist analogue configuration - where all the digital circuitry inside the A1H is bypassed and ignored.... and if you are going to do that, why purchase the A1H in the first place !?!

The A1H has onboard DAC's that by all objective measurements, and by subjective listening reviews, are transparent.... no discernible difference is likely to be found between its internal DAC's and an external unit (unless the external unit is introducing distortions that are audible as differences...)....

The audible improvements available in most (99%) listening setups are an order of magnitude greater through the use of RoomEQ (Dirac / Audyssey) - than what is plausibly achievable via a puritan approach using external DAC's.

For an external DAC to be worthwhile using, the room would need to be "perfect" and the speakers matched perfectly to the room....

Even those few with the luxury of unlimited budgets and dedicated listening rooms, struggle to achieve a "perfect" room - and therefore improvements are possible through digital processing, to compensate for the imperfections.

The only edge case in which a DAC would be useable and would provide actual benefits in real life, would be a complete "seperates" setup, where the digital signal was passed through a processor to handle the mixing/crossover/EQ, then passed digitally to the DAC, before moving to the amps/speakers ... and if the speakers are powered, then the signal going to the speakers might well be digital, and the DAC embedded in the speakers - making the external DAC redundant once again!!! - This type of a complete seperates configuration really only exists in pro studio equipment.... and has constraints in terms of ease of use / usability.
 
D

Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
Dear By Jacob Green Contributors: Matthew Poes , Gene DellaSala — February 08, 2023 ;
@gene @Matthew J Poes
In your article https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/denon-avr-a1h you wrote this:
"As is often the case with flagship Denon receivers, there are really too many features to count, let alone list here. But a couple of small things stood out to me. Unlike the AVR-X8500H, the AVR-A1H has a stereo balanced XLR input, perfect for the analog output of your favorite high-end DAC. It also comes with a 5-year warranty, instead of 3 years on the X8500H. "

I posted in this thread inquiring on the 5 year warranty statement, post number 215.


You have that from what source, can I have a copy of the document please?

regards,
Mike Rosinski
You do understand that Audioholics may have simply got the warranty wrong.

Or that Denon changed it

Maybe you should try reaching out to Gene through a DM. You can directly message people on this forum.

He runs everything so he may not be able to catch every post and he might respond quicker to a DM. Hope he can help you
 
mtbdudex

mtbdudex

Audioholic Intern
You do understand that Audioholics may have simply got the warranty wrong.

Or that Denon changed it

Maybe you should try reaching out to Gene through a DM. You can directly message people on this forum.

He runs everything so he may not be able to catch every post and he might respond quicker to a DM. Hope he can help you
When I reply to your post it shows up in notifications right? Mine does, I assume yours also.

Gene should see my quote to his post, like I see others.


To specifically state something factually, draw attention to a good thing, a selling point, means you have hard facts / evidence, that’s journalism 101.
By posting this:
“It also comes with a 5-year warranty, instead of 3 years on the X8500H”

There’s got to be traceable info, as the Audioholics stamp is on the Denon site.

I don’t like PMs, rather keep the conversation in the thread.
.
Screenshot 2025-02-26 at 6.28.02 AM.png


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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